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Follicular Lymphoma

Disease Information

Genentech BioOncology is dedicated to advancing the science of follicular lymphoma therapy through comprehensive research and education. Follicular lymphoma is a B-cell malignancy that belongs to the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma category; these tumors are named after their circular or nodular growth patterns typically seen in lymph nodes.^1,2

Patients with follicular lymphoma normally present with superficial lymph nodes of small to medium size that may stay unnoticed or neglected by the patient for a prolonged time.³ Follicular lymphomas are typically slow-growing tumors and may not require treatment at the time of diagnosis; instead, treatment may be initiated once the follicular lymphoma causes severe clinical problems.² Although the disease is usually characterized by a typically indolent clinical course, the majority of patients tend to relapse after their treatment.²

Most follicular lymphoma patients display a genomic abnormality involving chromosomes 14 and 18 that results in an inappropriate activation of an oncogene called Bcl-2²
Follicular lymphoma may grow in several lymph node sites and is known to involve bone marrow in about 50% to 60% of cases³
In about one-third of cases, follicular lymphoma may turn into an aggressive form of disease called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma that is treated as the aggressive disease²
Follicular lymphoma is generally associated with a good prognosis; about 70% of patients survive 5 years or more²